Thursday, March 31, 2011

RUISLIP Eagles flew to the top of the English National League Play-Off table with an emphatic 42-17 victory over Nottingham University at Greenbank Sports Academy in Liverpool on Sunday.

Bottom of the table and with just the bare seven players available for the match, Nottingham University proved no match for a Ruislip team who brought 11 players North, and dominated the match from start to finish.

Leading 16-5 by half time, the Eagles had Azzedine Messis to thank having scored six goals while Xavier Burrin netter three.

After the break the onslaught continued, but it was Burrin who largely took over the scoring responsibilities with another seven goals, while Messis added four so that both players finished the match on ten goals.

Guillaume Bodet played well for Nottingham and also scored ten goals, but it was never going to be enough to challenge for victory.

Great Dane overtook former leaders Salford when they secured a narrow 29-30 victory over their rivals, ensuring they move up to second spot in the table - level on points with Ruislip - while Salford slip to third.

Salford were 17-16 ahead at half time with Aden Woodall scoring six goals, but Great Dane edged ahead when it mattered, thanks largely to the goal-scoring efforts of Krisz Olschleger who scored 11 times.

Finally, nothing could separate Manchester and Olympia, who drew 21-21 in their play-off match.

With Salford losing Olympia could’ve moved up to third spot if they had won by four goals, but a strong defence from Manchester - led by goalkeeper Zsolt Deak - ensured the spoils were shared.

Minas Georgiou scored ten goals for Manchester and finished as top-scorer, while Schied scored six for Olympia.

The next round of play-off matches is this Sunday, April 3, at Moulton, Northampton.

Salford take on Olympia in the day’s first match, while Great Dane play Nottingham University and Ruislip Eagles play Manchester.